Role: Author

Leo Retz is a twelve-year-old boy in the seventh grade. He has many hobbies, such as reading, writing, playing soccer, playing the drums, building models, painting, swimming and camping. This is the first novel he has ever written but he plans to write many more. He first started writing thanks to the encouragement of his family, friends, and teachers.

Laura Kalpakian has received a National Endowment of the Arts, a Pushcart Prize, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award, and the first Anahid Literary Award for an American Writer of Armenian descent. Her novels include Steps and Exes, Graced Land, Caveat, and These Latter Days. Her short fiction has been gathered in three collections, including Fair Augusto, which won the PEN/West Award for Best Short Fiction. She lives in Washington State with her two sons.